Karnataka repeatedly defying SC order on Mekedatu: Vaiko

Vaiko, in a statement, said, “The Karnataka government had recently allotted Rs 9,000 crore for construction of reservoir across Cauvery river in Mekedatu and the allotment exceeds the previous allotment of Rs 5,912 crore, which shows that the neighbouring State is planning to utilise the water for farming practices”.

Recently, the Karnataka government made an announcement of constructing the Mekedatu dam by increasing the fund allotment and also by increasing the land required. Stating that despite the Supreme Court on February 16, 2018 having ordered the dam to be constructed only with the consent of both the States concerned, Vaiko remarked that Karnataka submitted a proposal to construct the Mekedatu dam and the Centre, too, allowed the State to carry out a detailed project report.

Vaiko also stated that with the Centre’s backing, Karnataka had expanded the motives for the project.

The Karnataka government trying to construct the dam is a step to make Tamil Nadu a desert and the Centre hence should not allow the neighbouring State to construct the dam across Cauvery, Vaiko said.